Type-casting machine.



R. H. LITTLE. TYPBUASTING MACHINE. ArPLmATIoN FILED 00T. 2

11.1111111111. TYPE ACASTING MAGHINE. A .AAPPLIOATION FILED 00T. 2, 1911. 1,033,024. Patented July 16, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co., WASHINGTO. D. C.

R. H. LITTLE. TYPE CASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 2, 1911. I

Patented July 16, 1912.

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w, o @Ev COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH CO., WASHINGTON, DC.

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ROBERT H. LITTLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TYPE-CASTING MACHINE,

Specification of Lettersilatent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Application filed October 2, 1911. Serial No. 652,455.

To all fr0/0m t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT I-I. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Type-Casting Machines, of which t-he following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specilication.

My invention relates to character forming machines and has a number of objects and advantages in view.

In accordance with one feature of my invention I employ a set of character forming units certain of which are selected to form one character, certain others of which are selected to form another character, certain others to form still another character, etc., the selected combinations of the character forming units varying according to the characters to be produced. Each of the character forming units, in the embodiment of the invention being described (to which embodiment I do not wish to be limited) is provided with a motor magnet, and the motor magnets of the character forming units are included in circuits that are controlled by switches correspondingto the characters that are to be formed, these switches being associated with differing combinations of contacts that constitute terminals of individual motor magnets and which are distributed in association with the switches suitable to the characters to be formed whereby one switch, when actuated, will cause the energization of one group of motor magnets and the operation of the character forming units governed by this group of motor magnets to produce the character corresponding to the switch actuated, another switch, when actuated, will cause the operation of another group of motor magnets and the character forming unit-s governed by this second group of motor magnets whereby the character corresponding to this second switch is produced and so on in connection with each of the switches enter'- ing into the structure.

It is to be understood that the motor magnets and the character forming units controlled thereby are in common association with many, if not all of the switches so that many of the character forming units may individually take part in the formation of a vlarge number of the characters that are to be produced. In other words I employ a minimum number' of character forming units among which select-ions may be made to produce all of the characters within the capacity or design of the equipment, a large number of these units individually entering into the formation o-f many or most of the characters.

Apart from the electrical equipment which I prefer to employ, there is a feature of my invention that is of particular importance irrespective of the means that is employed for governing the operation of the character forming units, the feat-ure of my invention now being referred to relating to the casting of type. The character forming units, in accordance with the present feature of my invention, constitute parts of a mold structure that is adapted to the casting of type, the character of the mold structure being changeable by the selection of various combinations of the character forming units whereby a given mold structure may, according to the adjustment of the character forming units, be adapted to the formation of a wide variety of characters.

In practising the present feature of my invention the character forming units are desirably in the form of wires that are rectangular or square in cross section, these wires being arranged in a plurality of rows and when in normal position filling a type metal receiving space. lVhen the mold is to be adjusted to adapt it to the formation of a character, those character forming wires that will enable the formation of the character are partially withdrawn from the type metal receiving space to enable the molten type metal to be poured into the space portions that are vacated by the withdrawn wires.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment Vthereof and in which- Figure l is a sectional view, on line l 1 of Fig. 2, of a character keyboard that includes in its formation motor magnet selecting switches; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, a part being broken away caving to lack of space for its illustration; Fig. 3 is a detail of a shift key mechanism entering into the construction illustrated in Figs. l and 2, this view being taken on line 3 El of Fig. 2; Fig. 4E is a view in sectional elevation of the inotor magnet niechanisin and the character forming wire units that are governed by the inotor inagnets7 this view also illustrating a forni of type inold that may be employed; F ig. 5 a view in elevation, partially broken away, taken at right angles to the direction in which Fig. l is taken; Fig. 6 is a view, somewhat diagrammatic, illustrating the inolding operation that occurs with the preferred forni of niy invention; Fig. is a plan View on line 7 7 of Fig. l; Fig. 8 is a bottoni view of the inold structure; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line f) 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. l0 illustrates7 on a larger scale than Fig. 8, a bottoni view of the character forming wire units, certain of these wire units being shaded to illustrate how a character may be formed by suitable a view7 somewhat diagrammatic, illustrating a circuit arrangement thatJ may be einployed but to which do not wish to be limited.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

As niy invention is preferably practised, I employ a single group of character fornr ing units l that are in the forni of small wires that are square in cross section, as illustrated inost clearly in Figs. 8 and l0. The lower or free ends of these units are closely approached so as to forni a substantially iinperforate niass of wires that are received within a rectangular space corresponding to the rectangular shape of said inass. rllwo of the adjacent walls of the space that receive the free ends of the character forming wires are desirably afforded by nieans of a plate 2 that is rigidly secured to a plate 3 as by .ineans of screws The remaining walls are desirably afforded by a sliding plate This sliding plate is connected with one end of a swinging link the other end of this swinging link (S having a fixed .fulcruin at 7. The plate 3 constitutes a carrier which may be elevated and lowered by mechanism or by hand and this carrier is, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, constrained to nieve in a vertical direction by nieans of sleeves l0 that surround stationary posts or guides 11 and are in sliding engagement with the saine. The space within the inold plate 2 thatis filled by the character forming wires l, when these wires are idle, is a type nietal receiving space to which access is had by nioltcn nietal when selected character forming wires l are withdrawn.

Figs. G and 1l illustrate the withdrawal selection; and Fig. ll is` l l l of certain of these character forming wires and. Fig. l0 also illustrates the withdrawal of a selected group of character forming wires so that type inetal receiving space is afforded that conforms to the shape of the character to be produced. rlhe embodiment of the invention illustrated is adapted for the casting of single type, though lny invention is not to be thus restricted. lVhen certain of the wires are to be withdrawn to forni a character the parts are in the posi tion illustrated in the lower portions of Figs. t and 5, in which position the plate 5 (see Figs. 8 and 9) is sutliciently withdrawn from the plate 2 to enable the character forming wires freely to be adjusted. After the wires have been adjusted to suit the character that is to be produced, the plates 2 and 3 are lowered so that the lower face of plate 2 is brought into contact with a niold plate l2 having a duct 1,3 leading to the space where the nietal is to be cast and the type is to be formed, the inolten metal being forced through the duct 13 to forni the type as illustrated inost clearly in Fig. G and in a manner which is well understood by those skilled in the art. lWhen the parts are brought into the position illustrated in Fig. G, the plate 5, owing to its connection with the link 6, is forced toward the character forming wires so that these character .forining wires are very firinly held to avoid the presence of interstices between the engaging faces of the wires so that no type nietal niay be pressed upwardly beyond the space in which the type is to be cast. After the type is formed the plates 2 and 3 are raised by inachinery or hand and the fornied type is removed.

rthe type molding niachine which It have specilically described preferably includes electroeinagnetic niechanisin governing the operation of the character forming units, but l do not wish to liinit my invention to an organization that includes both the inolding structure and the electro-magnetic inechanisni for governing the operation of the character forming units as it is obvious that er ch of these features ofiny invention is of importance within itself.

its the invention is illustrated, each of the character forming wires l carries a solenoid core lt entering the bore of a solenoid coil I hare*illustrated hforty-live wires, in .n 8 and i0, disposed in nine rows ot five wires each and l: have illustrated ay corresponding' group of fort vlive solenoids arranged in nine groups having live solenoi ds per group. Each group of solenoids includes soine arranged in a lower level and sonic arranged in an upper level as illustrated in Figs. land 7, the lower vlevel of a number of groups containing three sole noids while the balance of the groups of solenoids containing' two solenoids in this lower level, the sets of three solenoids alternating with the sets of two. A similar distribution of the solenoids in the upperl level is effected, this distribution of the solenoids economizing space. As I prefer to use but one solenoid core per character forming wire and one solenoid coil for such wire, the solenoid coils themselves are adapted to be substantially simultaneously energized in various groupings, those solenoids being operated that correspond with the wires that are to be actuated for the formation of a given character. For the convenience of the operator I provide a number of character keys 16, each individual to a character to be formed, the keys 16 being arranged in bank preferably in a manner somewhat similar to a typewriter' and as illust-rated for eX- ample in Fig. 2.

As suggested by the diagram in Fig. 11, one terminal of each of the solenoids is permanently connected with one pole of abattery 1T. The other pole of this battery is permanently connected with each of the key levers 18 that carry the keys 16. The other terminals of the solenoids are connected with contacts 19 that are provided for the switch arms 18, these latter terminals of the solenoids being electrically associated with those switch arms 18 that are to occasion, when actuated, the operation of those character forming wires that will enable the projection of the characters corresponding to the character keys carried by said switch arms. For reasons of mechanical construction, I desirably employ a terminal plate 2O for each solenoid and permanently connected with that solenoid terminal that is companion to that solenoid which is permanently connected with the battery 17. These terminal plates are extended transversely of and are disposed beneath all of the switch arms 18. Those terminal plates that are to be electrically connected with the switch arms are provided with projections 21 that constitute contacts. Thus one terminal plate may have a number of contacts 21 that underlie one collection of switch arms 18, another terminal plate -may have another set of contacts 21 that underlie another collection of switch arms 18, etc., each of the switch arms overlying a different collection of contacts 21 so that each switch arm, when depressed, will occasion the energization of a collection of solenoids that. differs from the collections of solenoids that are adapted to have circuit closed therethrough by the other switch arms. Thus the operation of the different character keys will cause the energization of differently physically related solenoids to occasion the elevation of different groupings of the character forming wires for the purpose above outlined or for other purposes within the capacity of the machine of my invention, the energization of each sotype metal;

lenoid causing the elevation of its core and the consequent elevation of the p articular character forming unit 1 which is desirably coupled with the solenoid core through the agency of the coupling device 22, it being preferable to split the character forming wires 1 at the couplings 22 for purposes of assembly, disassembly, replacement and repair. The initial or idle vert-ical positions of the character forming wires are desirably adjustably determined by means of the adjusting nuts 23 screwed upon the rounded upper ends of the character forming wires.

Fig. 10 illustrates the bottom of the group of character forming wires 1 with cert-ain of these wires withdrawn to enable the formation of the letter T. Each switch arm 18 desirably has a second group of contacts 21 that are normally located to one side of the switch arm associated therewith but which are adapted to be brought beneath the associate switch arm, in substitution for the contacts 21 that are normally located below such switch arm whereby each switch arm is capable of taking part in effecting the formation of two different characters, the groups of cont-acts 21 associated with each switch arm being different. The groups of contact-s 21 located below the switch arms 18 and the remaining groups of contacts 21 that are not normally located below the switch arms, are together mounted upon a carrier 24 which may be laterally shifted by a shift key 25 for the purpose of bringing contacts 21 that are normally beneath the switch arms 18 to one side of the switch arms and bringing the remaining contacts 21 that are normally located to one side of the switch arms beneath the switch arms for the purpose which has been described. Thus the switch arms that correspond to the letters of the alphabet may, if desired, be employed for enabling the formation of capital and small letters and other switch arms may each be employed for forming two characters of other descriptions. A spring 26 normally keeps the carriage 24 in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, this spring yieldingly opposing the operation of the'shift key 25.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invent-ion I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. A type casting apparatus including an element having space for receiving molten a plurality of relatively adjustable character forming units entering said space and serving by their adjustment to shape the molten metal receiving space suited to the character to be formed, and mechanism for effecting the adjusting movement of' said units whereby their adjustment may be varied to suit the character to be formed.

2. A type casting apparatus including an element having space for receiving molten type metal 5 a plurality of relatively adjustable character forming units thatare rectangular in cross section and whose aggregate cross sectional area is substantially equal to said space, these character forming elements serving' by their adjustment to shape the molten metal receiving space suited to the character to be formed, and mechanism for effecting' the adjusting movementof said units whereby their adjustment may be varied to suit the character to be formed.

3. A t-ype casting apparatus including an element having s pace for receiving molten type metal; a plurality of relatively adjustable character forming units arranged in a plurality of rows and serving by their adj ustment to shape the molten metal receiving space suited to the character to be formed, and mechanism for effecting the adjusting movement of said units whereby their adjustment may be varied to suit the character to be formed.

l. A type casting apparatus including an element having space for receiving molten type metal; a plurality of' relatively adjustable character forming units that are rectangular in cross section, these units being arranged in a plurality of rows and whose aggregate cross sectional area is substantially equal to said space, these character forming elements serving' by their adjustment to shape the molten metal receiving space suited to the character to be formed, and mechanism for effecting the adjusting movement or" said units whereby their adjustment may be varied to suit the character to be formed. j

5. A type casting apparatus including a movable element having' space for receiving molten type metal and a plurality of relatively adjustable character torming units arranged in a plurality of rows and serving by their adjustment to shape the molten metal receiving space suited to the character to be formed, said element having a portion that takes part in defining the type metal receiving space and which is movable toward and from the said character forming units whereby said character forming units may be firmly gripped when adjusted for the purpose of' forming a character and may be released to permit of relative adjustment of the character forming units.

G. A type casting apparatusincluding a movable element having space for receiving molten type metal and a plurality of relatively adjustable character forming units that are rectangular in cross section, these units being arranged in a plurality of rows and whose aggregate cross sectional area is substantially equal to said space, these char- .lng space suited to the character to be formed, said element having a takes part in defining the type metal receiving space and which is movable toward and from the said character forming units whereby said character forming units may be firmly gripped when adjusted for the purpose of forming a character and may be released to permit of relative adjustment of the character forming units.

7. A character forming apparatus including' a plurality of character forming units from among which different combinations are to be effected for the production of selected characters ,motor magnets for operating these units; and a plurality of motor magnet controlling' switches corresponding to diiierent characters, each switch controlling a group of motor magnet circuits, the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups.

8. A character forming apparatus including a plurality of character forming' units from among which different combinations are to be effected for the production of selected characters; motor magnets for operating these unit-s; and a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding' to different characters, each switch controlling a group of motor magnet circuits, the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not com` mon to the groups, and also including' circuits thatare common to the groups.

9. A character forming apparatus including a plurality of wire like character forming units from among which diierent combinations are to be effected for the producportion that 'tion of selected characters; motor magnets for operating these units; and a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to different characters, each switch controlling a group of motor magnet circuits, the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups.

10A character forming apparatus including a plurality of wire like character forming units from among which different combinations are to be effected for the production of-selected characters; motor magnets for operating these units; and a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to different characters, each switch controlling a group ofI motor magnet circuits, the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups, and alsoy including circuits that are common to the groups.

l1. A character forming apparatus including a plurality of wire like character forming units having tree ends that are arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows and which fr'ee ends enter into the formation of the selected characters; motor magnets for operating these units; and a plurality oi' motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to different. characters, each switch controlling a group ot motor magnet circuits; the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups.

12. A character forming apparatus including a plurality of wire like character forming units having tree ends that are arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows and which tree ends enter into the formation of the selected characters; motor magnets for operating these units; and a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to different characters, each switch controlling a group of motor magnet circuits; the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups, and also including circuits that are common to the groups.

13. A character forming apparatus including a plurality of character forming units from among which diiferent combinations are to he effected for the production of selected characters; motor magnets for operating these units; a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to different characters, each switch controlling a group ot motor magnet circuits, the ditterent groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups; a plurality of motor magnet circuit terminals for each switch normally out of operative association with said switch and connected with a group of motor magnet circuits that is different from the group of motor magnet circuits that is normally associated with said switch; and means for bringing the switches into operative association with the supplemental groups of motor magnet circ-uit terminals that are normally out of operative association with such switches.

14. A character forming apparatus including a plurality of character forming units from among which diiterent combinations are to he effected for the production ot selected characters; motor magnets tor operating these units; a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to diierentcharacters, each switch controlling a group ot motor magnetcircuits, the different groups of motor' magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups, and also including circuits that are common to the groups; a plurality of motor magnet circuit terminals for each switch normally out of operative association with said switch and connected with a group of motor magnet circuits that is from the group of motor magnet circuits that is normally associated with said switch; and means for bringing the switches into operative association with the supplement-al groups of motor magnet circuit terminals that are normally out of operative association with such switches.

15. A character' forming apparatus including a plurality of wire like character torniing units Jfrom among which different combinations are to he etfected for the production ot selected characters; motor magnets for operating these units; a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponc ing to diterent characters7 each switch controlling` .a group of motor magnet circuits, the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups; a plurality of motor magnet circuit terminals for each switch normally out of operative association with said switch and connected with a group of motor magnet circuits that is diEerent from the group of motor magnet vcircuits that is normally associated with said switch; and means for bringing the switches into operative association with the supplemental groups of motor magnet circuit terminals that are normally out of operative association with such switches. j

16. Acharacter forming apparatus including apl-urality of wire like character torming units from among which different. cornloinations are to loe effected for the production of selected characters; motor magnets for operating these units; a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to diiierent characters, each switch controlling agroup of motor magnet circuits, the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups, and also including circuits that are common to the groups; a plurality of motor magnet circuit terminals for each switch normally out of operative association with said switch and connected with a group of motor magnetcircuits that is different from the group of motor magnet circuits that is normally associated with said switch; and means for bringing' the switches into operative association with the supplemental groups of motor magnet circuit terminals that are normally outot operative association with such switches.

17. A character forming apparatus including a plurality of wire like character torming units having free ends that are arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows and which tree ends enter into the formation of the selected characters; motor magnets Jfor operating these units; a-plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to different characters, each switch controlling a group of motor magnet circuits7 the different different groups ot motor magnet circuits including circuits that arc not common to the groups; a plurality of motor magnet circuit terminals for each switch normally outof operative association with said switch and connected with a group of motor magnet circuits thatI is different from the group of motor magnet circuits that is normally associated with said switch; and means for bringing the switches into operative association with the supplemental group of motor magnet circuit terminals that are normally out of operative association with such switches.

18. A character forming apparatus including a plurality of wire like character forming units having free ends that are arranged in a. plurality of adjacent rows and which free ends enter into the formation of the selected characters; motor magnets for operating these units; a plurality of motor magnet controlling switches corresponding to different characters, each switch controlling a group ot motor magnet circuits, the different groups of motor magnet circuits including circuits that are not common to the groups, and also including circuits that are common to the groups; a plurality of motor magnet circuit terminals' for each switch normally out of operative association with said switch and connected with a group of motor magnet circuits that is diii'erent from the group of motor magnet circuits that is normally associa-ted with said switch; and means for bringing the switches into operative association with the supplemental Washington,

groups of motor magnet circuit terminals that are normally out ot operative associa tion with such switches.

19. A character forming cluding a plurality of character forming units from among which diitlerent combina-` tions are to be eitected for the production of selected characters; a switch and motor magnet circuit terminals arranged in groups having terminals that are not common to the motor magnet circuits; and switching mechanism common to these groups of terminals and adapted for operative association with either of the groups of terminals.

20. A character forming apparatus including a plurality ot character forming units from among which ditlferent combinations are to he etected for the production of selected characters; a switch and motor magnet circuit terminals arranged in groups having terminals that are not common to the motor magnet circuits and also terminals which are common to the motor magnetcircuits; and switching mechanism common to these groups ot' terminals and adapted for operative association with either of the groups of terminals.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of September A. D. 1911.

apparatus in- ROBERT H. LITTLE. Witnesses E. L. lVifirrn, G. L. CRAGG. 

